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Monday, March 18, 2013

Shangela Speaks Out About Controversy In Wisconsin

Prejudice is
alive and well with certain groups in Wisconsin.

Shangela, of
RuPaul’s Drag Race, found herself in the middle of a controversy last week in
Wisconsin where she was performing with local talent on a University campus.
The problem, for at least a couple of groups there, is that drag “promotes evil
and sexual perversion”. Really?

The group is also
up in arms about using taxpayer funding from a public university for this kind
of entertainment. Turns out the money didn’t come from the public funding
however, but another, student supplied source.

MENASHA – The
Universtiy of Wisconsin-Fox Valley hosted a drag show Thursday night, and while
some say the performance where men dress as women is harmless fun, others
disagree.

A lot of lights,
dancing and lip syncing took stage at UW-Fox Valley Thursday. Area
performers and reality TV star Shangela shared the spotlight in this drag show.

Supporters said
drag is an art form that embraces entertainment and diversity. They say all it
takes is an open mind.

“Everybody’s
talking about it, so we just decided to come on out and see what’s going on.
Everything that I’ve heard has been ‘it’s coming! Oh my gosh! We have to go see
it!’ Everyone’s been really excited,” said UW-Fox Valley student Alison Mauthe.

But protestors
also came to the school Thursday. They questioned the performance, saying it
promotes a dangerous lifestyle.

“Number one it
promotes evil and sexual perversion and number two, why do taxpayers have to
subsidize such things? This is a publicly funded university,” said Al Doyle of
Oshkosh.

The school told
us the money comes from a separate fund students pay into.

“We have
segregated fees that are different from tuition. Where tuition is classified as
state money, these are fees that our students pay for entertainment,” explained
college spokesman David Hager.

But in a
statement, Wisconsin Family Action reiterated to FOX 11 the idea that drag is
not acceptable entertainment at a public school, saying, “We do not believe
this show is in any way in the students’ best interest. Even though the UW Fox
Valley disavows any formal support or endorsement of the show, this is
certainly not the type of educational experience most Wisconsin citizens expect
to take place on the campuses of public universities.”

Shangela told in
the end, not everyone’s going to agree with what she does, but maybe they can
learn something from it.

“Whether it’s my
show or events that I’m part of I just invite them to come, see the show, then
walk away with their opinions. Everyone’s entitled to their own opinion,” said
Shangela.

More than 200 people attended Thursday’s sold
out show. Nationally syndicated sex-advice columnist Dan Savage bought the
majority of the tickets so other people could go for free. He told FOX 11 over
the phone Thursday he did it to show his support for the event.